Liquid dispensing devices



July 8,1958 J. cRowDER ,2,842,294

LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICS Fileqmay 24, 1957 LHQUID DSPENSENG DEVICES .loseph Crowder, Dunbar, W. Va. Appiication May 24, 1957, Serial No. 661,522 7 Claims. (Cl. Z22-426) This invention relates to liquid dispensing devices, and more specifically, the present invention pertains to dispensing means for dispensing a plurality of predetermined liquid volumes.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device of the type referred to above with valve control means for controlling the dispensing of one of two known liquid volumes independently of each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device for dispensing two known liquid volurnes, the dispensing operation being done in sequential order.

A further object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device as described supra with a plurality of liquid containers served from a common reservoir together with valve means for cutting off the liquid supply from said reservoir to the containers as the liquid is dis pensed therefrom.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a liquid dispensing device which is noncomplex in construction andassembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more manifest from reading of the following specification in the light of the annexed drawing, in which:

FigureV 1 is a medial cross sectional view of a liquid dispensing device constructed in accordance with .the teachings of the instant invention;

` Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed cross sectional view taken onV the horizontal plane of line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed cross sectional View taken on the vertical plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; p

Figure 4 is a detailed cross sectional view taken on the horizontal plane of line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the liquid dispenser similar to Figure l, the dispensing valve, however, being shown in one of its open and dispensing positions; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional View similar to Figure 5, Figure 6 illustrating the dispensing valve as being raised to its second operative position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a dispensing device constructed in accordance with the instant invention. The dispensing device 10 is seen to comprise an open ended cylindrical reservoir l2 including a bottom wall 14 having an integrally formed and substantially upright annular side wall 16.

The bottom wall 1.4 is provided with an enlarged centrally positioned aperture 18 having a depending annular boss Ztl which serves a function to be described below. The bottom wall 14 is also formedwith an offset transpatented July s, sV

versely extending opening 22 in which is xedly secured one end of a substantially vertically extending hollow cylindrical air vent tube 24.

The upper end of the reservoir 12 is provided with a substantially circular closure member 26 supported on the upper end of the side wall 16, the closure member 26 including a depending annular flange adapted to bear against the side wall 16 adjacent its upper end. As is clearly seen in Figure l of the drawing, the closure member 26 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 30 surrounded by an upwardly projecting substantially hollow boss 32. A substantially hollow tubular element 34 depends from the closure memberf26 into the reservoir l2 and is coaxially aligned with the opening 30. For reasons to be made clear below, the hollow tubular element 34 is provided with a substantially rectangular bore 36 which extends throughout its length. The closure member 26 is also provided with an offset opening 38 and an integrally formed vupwardly projecting ange 4t). The ange 40 is internally threaded to receive the externally threaded end 42 of a removable cap 44 having a centrally positioned transversely extending air vent 46 formed therein.

Reference numeral 48 designates an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical liquid discharge conduit "having a closure plate 56 extending across the upper end thereof. The conduit 48 adjacent the upper end thereof is provided with a first series of circumferentially spaced apertures 52 and a second series of circumferentially spaced apertures S4, the last mentioned series of apertures being vertically spaced above the rst mentioned series.

A shaft S6 is mounted for reciprocation within the conduit 48 and projects upwardly therefrom through an aperture 58 formed in the closure plate 56 and through the aperture 18 formed in the bottom wall 14 of the reservoir 12. The upper end of the shaft 56 is externally threaded at 60, the threaded end 60 being, threadedly received within a knob designated by reference numeral 62. The knob 62 is provided with an integrally formed depending projection 64 which is adapted to bear against the boss 32. As is seen in Figures 1 and 4, the shaft S6 adjacent the inner end of the thread 60 is provided with a longitudinally extending substantially rectangularportion 66 which is slidably received in the bore 36. Thus the hollow tubular member 34 and the rectangular portion 66 of the shaft 56 cooperate to prevent the shaft 56 from turning as the knob 62 is rotated in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

A valve 68 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 56, the valve 68 abutting against a washer 70 which is retained in place by means of a nut 72 threaded on the lower end of the shaft 56. A helicoidal spring surrounds the lower end of the shaft 56 and one of its ends abuts against the closure plate 50 and the other end thereof bears against the valve 68. The arrangement of these elements is such that the spring 74 constantly tends to urge the valve 68 for movement away from the closure plate 50.

A collar '76 is xedly secured on the shaft 56 by means of a set screw 78. As is seen in the figures, the collar 76 serves as stop means for limiting downward movement of the valve within the conduit 48.

One end of a helicoidal spring Si) feeds against the upper side of the washer 76. The helicoidal spring Sil also surrounds the shaft 56 .and the upper end thereof supports a valve 82 which is freely mounted on the shaft 56.

A substantially hollow cylindrical liquid container is designated by reference numeral 84. The container S4 is provided with a bottom wall S6 h-aving an inverted substantially. frusto-conical configuration. The bottom wall 86 is centrally apertured to receive therethrough the upper end of the conduit 48. As is seen in the figures, the bottom wall 86 is welded at 38 to the conduit 43 intermediate the vertically spaced series of apertures 52 and 54.

A second container 90 surrounds the container Sd in spaced relation relative thereto. The container 96 is also provided with a bottom wall 92 having a truste-conical configuration. The bottom wall 92 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture to receive the conduit 43 therethrough. The bottom wall g2 is secured to the conduit 4S immediately below the circumferentially spaced apertures 52 by means of welding 94. Welding 94, or any other suitable conventional supporting means such as screws, brackets, etc., secures the upper end of the container 90 to the underside of the bottom wall i4 of the reservoir 12.

Any conventional supporting means such as, for example, a bracket 98 may be employed to permanently locate the dispenser 12 at a desired point.

Figure l illustrates the relative position of the component elements of the dispenser under nondispensing conditions. As illustrated therein, the valve 68 is disposed below the lowermost series of circumferential apertures 52 and the valve 32, is in its open position relative to the valve seat 29. Under these circumstances, lliquid is free to fiow from the reservoir 12. through the opening ii-,- and into the container 84. As the container Se becomes filled the same will overflow into the container 90. Liquid continues to ow from the reservoir i2 until both containers are completely filled.A It will be understood, of course, that the volume of the containers S4 and 90 have been predetermined.

Let it now be assumed that the operator desires to dispense only that liquid which is disposed within the conainer 9G. To affect this dispensing operation, the operator rotates the knob 60 in a clockwise direction causing the shaft 56 to rnove upwardly. This movement is continued until the valve 68 is interposed lbetween the two series of apertures 52 and 54. Thus the liquid disposed in the container 90 flows freely through the apertures 52 and into the upper end of the discharge or dispensing conduit 4.

Simultaneously with the opening of the apertures 52, the upward movement of the shaft 56 forces the valve S2. to seat against the valve seat and to thereby prevent any additional fluid from entering the container 96.

After all of the liquid has been discharged from the container 9), the operator then turns the knob 62 in a counterclockwise direction moving the shaft 56 downwardly until the valve 68 is positioned once again within the conduit 4S at a point below the first series of apertures 52.

lt should be pointed out at this time that as the valve S2 seats against the valve seat Zit and as the knob 62 is rotated still further, the spring Si) is compressed between the valve 82 and the collar '76. This is an important feature of the invention for, as the knob 62 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the spring 3i? maintains thc valve 82 closed against the valve seat 26 until the valve 72 has been moved to its closed position as is shown in Figure 1.

Let it now be assumed that the operator desires the tetal volumes of the containers-Lt and 99. Under these conditions, the knob 6a is rotated in a clockwise direction to `effect an elevation of the shaft 56, as described above. However, the knob 62 is rotated a number of more revolutions to cause the valve 68 to pass upwardly beyond the two series of circumferentially spaced apertures 52, 54.

Again, `the valve S2 is compressed against the valve seat 2t) by the spring tit) and thereby prevents the flow of fluid from the reservoir into either of the two containers. After the contents of both containers have been dispensed through the tubular member #i8 the knob 62 Y device it is clear that the operator need not completely exhaust the liquid contents of the container 96. Any part or all of the liquid disposed within the containers may he utilized. Additionally, it should also be understood that after the contents of the first container have i been exhausted, it is not necessary for the user to completely exhaust the contents of the second container. The valve may be oper ted in such a manner to obtain the desired volume of liquid.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A liquid dispensing device comprising a normally upright elongated substantially hollow cylindrical liquid dispensing element having a centrally apertured closure plate at the upper end thereof, said element having a `first series of eircurnferentially spaced apertures formed therein adjacent said closure plate, said element having a second series of circumferentially spaced apertures, said first and second series of apertures being vertically spaced relative to each other, a first container having opposed open and closed ends, said element extending through said closed end, means rigidly securing said closed end to said element intermediate said first and second series of apertures, a second container having opposed open and closed ends, said second container surrounding said first container in laterally spaced relation and with said rst and second closed ends being disposed proximate each other, said element extending through said closed end of said second container, means rigidly securing said last named closed end to said element below the lowerrnost series of apertures, a liquid reservoir having opposed open and closed ends, means rigidly securing the upper end of said second container with said closed end of said reservoir, said closed end of said reservoir having an aperture formed therein, means venting said rst and second containers into said reservoir, a closure member for said open end of said reservoir, means in said closure member for venting said reservoir to the atmosphere, said closure member having an aperture formed therein, an elongated shaft mounted for reciprocaticn within said ele-ment, said shaft exten-ding through said closure plate, said first container and said apertures formed in said closed end of said reservoir, its closure member and extending thereabove, a valve fixedly secured on said shaft and disposed within said element, said valve being normally disposed in its closed position immediately below said second series of apertures, a first helicoidal spring surrounding said shaft and having one of its ends engaging against said valve, the other end of said spring abutting against said `closure plate, said first helicoidal spring constantly tending to urge said valve for movement away from said closure plate, a collarfixedly secured to said shaft adjacent said closure plate, a second valve slidably mounted on said shaft, a second helicoidal spring interposed between sai-d colar and second valve, said second valve being movable for engagement across said aperture formed in cios-:d end of said reservoir, a knob threaded on said extending end of said shaft and bearing against said closure member and means preventing rotation of said shaft as knob is rotated in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

2. A liquid dispensing device comprising a pair of concentri'cally disposed containers having opposed open and closed ends, said closed ends being proximate to but spaced from each other, a normally upright hollow tubular element having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said element extending through said closed ends of said containers and having a portion thereof projecting above the innermost one thereof, said projecting portion having a plurality of apertures formed therein, said element having a plurality of apertures formed therein intermediate said closed ends of said containers, a valve mounted for reciprocation within said element and being movable to points above and below said rst and second apertures, and a valve operating shaft, said shaft having one of its ends projecting through said closed end of said element and its other end iixedly secured to said valve.

3. A liquid dispensing device comprising a pair of concentrically disposed substantially cylindrical containers having opposed open and closed ends, said closed ends being proximate to but spaced from each other and the outermost one thereof having a greater axial length than the axial length of the innermost one of said containers, a normally upright hollow tubular element having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said element extending through said closed ends of said containers and having a portion thereof projecting above the innermost one thereof, said projecting portion having a plurality of apertures formed therein, said element having a plurality of apertures formed therein intermediate said closed ends of said container, a reservoir fixedly secured to said open end of said outermost container, a valve mounted for reciprocation within said element and being movable to points above and below said first and second apertures, and a valve operating shaft, said shaft having one of its ends extending through said reservoir and said closed end of said element, and said shaft having its other end fixedly secured to said valve.

4. A liquid dispensing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said reservoir includes a pair of closed upper and lower ends, said shaft extending through said opposed pair of upper and lower ends and terminating at a point above said upper ends.

5. A liquid dispensing device as defined in claim 4 and means for venting said concentric containers into said reservoir, and means for venting said reservoir to the atmosphere.

6. A liquid dispensing device comprising a normally upright elongated substantially hollow dispensing element having a centrally apertured closure plate at the upper end thereof, said element having a first series of circumferentially spaced apertures formed therein adjacent said closure plates, said elements having a second series of circumferentially spaced apertures, said first and second series of apertures being vertically spaced relative to each other, a first container having opposed open and closed ends, said element extending through said closed end, means rigidly securing said closed end to said element intermediate said rst and second series of apertures, a second container having opposed open and closed ends, said second container surrounding said first container in laterally spaced relation and with said first and second closed ends being disposed proximate each other, said rst container having a greater axial length than said second container, said element extending through said closed end of said second container, means rigidly securing said last named closed end to said element below the lowermost series of apertures, a liquid reservoir having opposed open and closed ends, means rigidly connecting the upper end of said secondY container with said closed end of said reservoir, said closed end of said reservoir having an aperture formed therein,

means venting said rst and second containers into said reservoir, a closure member for said open end of said reservoir, means in said closure member for venting said reservoir to the atmosphere, said closure member having an aperture formed therein, an elongated shaft mounted for reciprocation within said element, said shaft extending through said closure plate, said first container and said aperture formed in said closed end of said reservoir, its closure member and extending thereabove, a valve iixedly secured on said shaft within said element and normally disposed in its closed position immediately below said second series of apertures, resilient means disposed within said element and constantly tending to urge said valve for movement away from said closure plate, a second valve slidably mounted on said shaft, resilient means constantly tending to move said second valve for engagement across said aperture formed in said closed end of said reservoir, a manually operable knob threadedly mounted on said extending end of said shaft, said knob having a portion thereof bearing against said closure member, and means preventing rotation of said shaft as said knob is rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

7. A liquid dispensing device comprising a normally upright elongated substantially hollow dispensing element having an apertured closure plate at the upper end thereof, said element having a first series of circumferentially spaced apertures formed therein adjacent said closure plate, said element having a second series of circumferentially spaced apertures, said first and second series of apertures being vertically spaced relative to each other, a first container having opposed open and closed ends, said element extending through said closed end and being xedly secured thereto intermediate said lirst and second series of apertures, a second container having opposed open and closed ends, said second container surrounding said first container, said element extending through said closed end of said second container, means rigidly securing said last named closed end to said element below the lowermost series of apertures, a liquid reservoir having opposed open and closed ends, means rigidly connecting the upper end of said container with said closed end of said reservoir, said closed end of said reservoir having an aperture formed therein, means venting said first and second containers into said reservoir, a closure member for said open end of said reservoir, means in said closure member for venting said reservoir to the atmosphere, said closure member havingV an aperture formed therein, an elongated shaft mounted for reciprocation within said element, said shaft extending through said closure plate, said first container, said aperture formed in said closed end of said reservoir, its closure member and extending thereabove, a valve fxedly secured on said shaft within said element and normally disposed in closed position immediately below said second series of apertures, means disposed within said element, said means constantly tending to urge sai'd valve for movement away from said closure plate, a second valve slidably mounted on said shaft, resilient means constantly tending to move said second valve for engagement across said aperture formed in said closed end of said reservoir, said last named means holding said second valve seated when said first valveis moved to its open position above said first or second sexies of apertures, and means preventing rotation of said shaft as said shaft is actuated to move said iirst valve to its open and closed positions. f v

No references cited. 

